As someone who works in the Swansea Grand Theatre, my strongest memories are associated with the drama workshops organised for young people.
Every year, during the summer holiday we organise West End Workshops in partnership with a company from London.
It is an intense week as everyday the kids work with a different performer from a West End Musical in the morning and the afternoon, and the Friday evening is the culmination of everything they’ve done throughout the week. They put on a massive performance and it is just brilliant to see really shy people suddenly blossoming and hearing them sing.
The kids just love these workshops and I love spending time with them. These activities aren’t just about creating the performances but about seeing them develop in lots of ways. The kids socialise, they help each other, they work together, it’s those extra bits that excite me the most.
I’ve also seen some incredible performances in the theatre. I remember one powerful performance, in particular, it was just one female in the small studio in the Arts Wing. She was just solo and performed for an hour this very emotional piece. I remember at the end, I couldn’t even move. It had such an impact on me.
I think a lot of people in Swansea feel quite a personal connection with the theatre. Not that many theatres in the country have had such a long life. There are generations of memories and connections to this theatre. So much of Swansea was bombed during the war, but the theatre is still standing, it’s a symbol of strength, creativity and variety.
